Hub and journal box



Oct. 5, 1926. 1,602,046-

H. W. SANFORD ET AL v HUB AND JOURNAL BOX Filed June 8, 19 25 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 5,1926. 1,602,046

I H. W. SANFORD ET AL HUB AND JOURNAL BOX Filed June 8 1925 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 +1149 +5 6 1g B? DE 7 5 Oct. 5 1926. 1,602,046

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I-IUGH IV. SANFORD, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, AND HARRY W. JONES, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR-S TO SANF'QRD INVESTMENT COMPANY, OF WILMING- TON,DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

HUB AND JOURNAL BOX.

Application filed June 8, 1925. Serial No. 85,670.

This invention relates generally to hubs and axle boxes or bearings and particularly to hubs and axle boxes or bearings in mine cars in which a part or all of the wheels are fixed on the axles and the axles rest in bearing which are associated with pedestals or housings attached to the car body.

The object of this invention is to provide a construction in which the bearing box and the pedestal or housing are associated with each other and with the wheel hub in. an effective manner, particularly with reference to making the bearing box free from end thrust and making it floating and self-aligning, and withreference to ample lubrication and exclusion of dirt.

In the accompanying drawings,

1 is a plan of the under structure of a mine car embodying our improvement;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one end of one of the transverse channel plates which.

are applied to the lower face of the car bottom;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal upright section on the line, 3-3, of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow;

4 is an upright section on the line, le-4, of F 3, looking toward the right;

Fig. 5 is an upright section on the line, 55, of Fig. 3, looking toward the right;

Fig. 6 is an upright section on the line, 66, of Fig. 3, looking toward the right;

Fig. 7 is an upright section on the line, 'Z7, of Fig. 3, looking toward the left;

Fig. 8 is an upright section on the line, 88, of Fig. 3, looking toward the right;

Fig. 9 is an upright section on the line,

9, of Fig. 3, looking toward the left;

Fig. 10 is an upright section on the line, 1010, of Fig. 3, looking toward the left;

Fig. 11 is an upright section on the line, 11, 12-11, 19., of Fig. 3, looking toward the right;

Fig. 12 is an upright section on the line, 11, 1211, 12, of Fig. 3, looking toward the left;

Fig. 13 is an upright section on the line, 1313, of Fig. 3, locking toward the right;

Fig. leis a horizontal section on the line it-1e, of Fig.

Fig. 15 is a horizontal section on the line, 1515, of Fig. 3, the hub being omitted;

Fig. 16 is a perspective of the bearing box lining;

Fig. 17 is a perspective of the bearing box;

Fig. 18 is a perspective of'the housing. Referring to said drawings, A, A are axles, G, Gr, are wheels having hubs, G surrounding the axles. The axles extend through the pedestals or housings, O. B B are two cross plates. Each of these plates is slotted or cut out at each end to leave two arms, B in which are holes, B and which arms have outer, downward-directed marginal flanges, B The space between these arms is made right to bring one of the arms close to each side of the recess, B in the floor, B, and the sides of the pedestals, C, and to bring the edge of the plate which is between the arms close to the pedestal. Between the plates, B are two connecting members, I, each having its ends'rigi-dly joined to the adjacent flanges, B, of the plates, B In the form shown. in the drawings, each of said members is angle-form in cross section and has one of its flanges, I directed downward and placed toward the wheels, G. The horizontal flange of each member, I, is out just long enough to adapt its ends tobear against the adjacent flange, B of the adjacent cross plate, while the upright flange, I is left long enough to be bent at rightangles to the length of the member, I, so as to form a tongue, I lying flatwise against the adjacent flange, B and secured thereto by a rivet, I The two cross members, B and the connecting members, I, form a rectangular frame which becomes apart of the truck or under structure of the car. Near each wheel each of said flanges, I is provided with an orifice, I large enough to-receive a lubricating pipe hereinafter described.

A pedestal or housing, C, is attached to each end of each cross plate, 13 The cross plates being definitely spaced from each other by the-connecting members, I, the pedestals are held in definite relation to each other, the pedestals on one plate, 13 being on the same axial line, and the axial line of the pedestals on one plate being held parallel to the upright plane of the axial line of the pedestals on the other plate.

The part of each axle which extends through the wheel and through the axle bearing or bearing box is cylindrical and of uniform diameter. The entire axle is preferably of this form, in order that it may be made of cold drawn steel, a process which is economical and also affords steel of high quality, whereby an axle of a given diameter is made stronger than can be made of hot rolled commercial steel.

B is the floor of the car body. In the form shown by the drawings, this floor is of wood. Its lower face is recessed at B to make room for the pedestal or housing, C, which surrounds the axle bearing or axle box body, D. The upper part of said pedestal has a horizontal face, C resting against the wood floor, as's'hown by Figs. l, 5, 7, 8 and 9. On the floor above the recess, B is a metal washer plate, B through which extend four bolts, as will appear further on.

On each side of the pedestal and integral therewith are two lugs, G which bear upward and sidewise against the adjacent arms, B Bolts, B extend downward through the washer plate, E the floor, B, the adjacent arm, 13*, and the adjacent lug, C and bind said parts to each other. The drawings show four such bolts applied to the pedestal.

The pedestal or axle box housing, G, 'extends entirely around the axle box body. The inner end of the pedestal has an upright wall, G which has an oblong orifice, C the longer axis of which is upright. The size of this orifice is sufficient to receive the axle, A, and to permit limited up and down movement of the axle in the housing.

The outer end of the housing, the end nearest the wheel, has no upright wall inte gral with the housing. A removable thrust wall, ll, surrounds the'axle and extends across the end of the housing and is secured thereto by cap Screws, C extending through the thrust wall and into the adjacent lugs, C of the housing. The thrustwall has an oblong opening, F through which the axle,

A, extends. The long axis of said opening is upright; and said opening is only large enough to receive the axle and permit limited up and down movement of the axle relative to the thrust wall and housing.

Between the inner end of the axle box, D, and the end wall, C of the housing, a dust excluding washer plate, C surrounds the axle, A. Acoil'ed spring, C surrounds the axle between the washer plate and the end wall, D and presses the washer plate yieldingly against the wall, C of the housing. By this means, the oblong opening, 0*, in the end wall, C of the housing is substantially sealed against entry of dust from the outside of the housing. This exclusion of dust from the housing is import-ant because the housing is used for holding in its lower part a supply of lubricant.

Between its ends, the upper face of the axle box, D, has a transverse horizontal.

ridge or summit, D resting against the lower face of the upper wall of the pedestal or housing, C. Said ridge orrsunimit is transverse to the bearing box axis and forms a line on which the bearing box may relatively rock on the lower face of the upper wall of the housing, this feature contributing to making this a self-aligning axle bearing, such as is already known in this art. The rocking above mentioned is on a horizontal face. On each side of the bearin box are two upright faces which bear against corresponding faces, on the inner side faces of the housing, 'C. These faces, I) and C permit the relative rocking of the axle box above described, but limit rocking of the axle box relative to the housing on an upright axis.

.The inner or right-hand end of the bearing box has an upright wall, D which fits closely around the axle but permits free turning and the passage of lubricant.

The opposite or outer end of the axle box has no end wall formed integral with said body. A ring, D, surrounds the axle and bears against the end of said box. The main part of said ring is in a plane transverse to the axle. Said ring has an outer flange, D which extends over a part of the inner face of the box. Parts, D, of said flange are bent int-o recesses, D formed on the outer face of the axle box. (Figs 3 and 9). By this means, said ring is removably secured to the axle box. Midway between its ends the interior face of the axle box has a circumferential channel, D A metal sleeve, D forms a lining for the axle box. Said sleeve extends over the channel, D But said sleeve has a slot, D extending lengthwise and crossing the channel, D whereby lubicant in the channel may pass through said slot. Antifriction rollers, E, occupy the space between the axle, A, and the sl eve, D. The ends of said rollers almost meet the wall, D and the ring, D*. Thus said ends are not engaged and are free from end thrust.

Adjacent each wheel, G, a lubricant pipe, I), extends through the orifice, T of the adjacent connecting member, I, and toward the opposite connecting member. Said pipe is flexible enters a nipple, D, which extends through a slot, C in the housing, C, and is threaded into the side of the axle box midway between the ends of the latter and at the channel, D whereby lubricant may pass through the pipe, B, into said channel and thence through the slot, D in the loo well-known form for sleeve, D to the anti-friction rollers, E. A dust excluding plate, D surrounds the nipple, D and covers the slot, C A disc, D, is threaded around the outer end of the nipple, D (Figs. 1, 7, 8 and 10). Between said disc and the plate, D is a coiled spring, I), bearing against said disc and the plate, D whereby the plate, D is yieldingly pressed against the outer face of the housing for the exclusion of dust from the interior of the housing. The slot, C is for the purpose of allowing the nipple, D, to move relative to the housing when the axle box moves up or down in the housing.

On the outer end of the lubricant pipe, 1), is any suitable device adapted to receive and transmit lubricant into said pipe. This may be a nipple or screw plug, D of connection with a grease gun. The orifice, 1 in the connectin member, I, is to be far enough away from the adjacent axle to bring thev outer end of the pipe, I), out of the range of the adjacent wheel, G, in order that lubricant may be injected into the. axle box without passing between spokes or any other opening in the wheel and without the necessity of turning the wheel into any particular position on the axle.

The thrust wall, F, has a longitudinal flange, F extending outward around the adjacent end of the hub, G a space being left between the flange and the hub. A. transverse flange, F extends from the flange, F toward the hub. At the outer side of the flange, F dust excluding rings, F surround the hub and bear against said flange. Retaining pins, F extend through the outer part ofthe flange, F at opposite sides of the hub and bear against the outer of the rings, F whereby said rings are held a ainst the flange, n for the exclusion of dirt from the outside and to prevent escape of oil outward through the space between the hub and the flange, F A port, F, through the lower part of the thrust wall, F, connects the interior of the housing, C, with the space between the thrust wall, F, and the transverse flange, F Lubricant may pass from the interior of the housing through said port into said space. In said space, two washers, F surround the axle, A. The diameter of said washers is less than the space enclosed by the flange, F but the washers have radial wings, F which reach approximately to the inner face of the flange, F The flange, F is slotted at F", to allow said wings to pass forthe insertion of said rings. (Figs. 12 and 13). 'At the left of the flange, F is the space for pass ing the rings. V

Lubricant passing into the space between the antifriction rollers, E, may pass along the axle at either end of the axle box and thence down into the lower part of the hous-' ment on the axle.

ing and accumulate there to the height of the lower part of the orifice formed by the flange, F Thus lubricant will be in the lower part of the path of the wings, F of the washers, F Said washers will turn irregularly by frictional engagement with the wheel hub. During such turning, the wings, F will carry or drive lubricant upward to and above the axle, whereby the meeting faces of the hub and the washers will be lubricated.

Ordinarily the wheel, G, will be made fast on the axieby means of a pin extending through the axle and the wheel hub at A If the wheel is to be loose, the pin is to be removed from A and that r another pin inserted through the axle at A for holding the wheel against outward move- WVhen the wheel is loose, lubricant is to be inserted through the port, G into the lubricant passage, G

When the car body shifts toward the left, the end thrust is taken by the thrust wall, F, and the wheel hub, G and the washers, F int rmediate said members. Thrust in the opposite direction is taken by the thrust wall and the wheel hub at the other end of theaxle. v

T he pedestal or housing, C, and the thrust wall, F, may be regarded as together constituting a housing structure which completely surrounds the axle box and through which the axle extends and which is adapted to retain lubricant and to exclude dust, lubricant first passing through the lubricant pipe, D into the axle box and some of the lubricant afterward escaping into the lower part of the interior of the housing structure and thence into the annular recess in which are the washers, F

o claim as our invention,

1. In a railway car, the combination with an axle and a wheel surrounding, the axle, of an axle box surrounding the axle, a housing structure surrounding the axle box and closed for retaining lubricant and excluding dirt and comprising an upright annular recess con'imunicating at its lower part with the lower part of the interior of the portion of the housing in which the axle box is located, and means in said annular recess for carrying lubricant upward from the lower part of said recess, substantially as described.

2. In a railway car, the combination with an axle and a wheel surrounding the axle, of an axle box'surrounding the axle, a housing structure surrounding the axle box and closed for retaining lubricant and excluding dirt and comprising an upright annular recess communicating at its lower part with the lower part of the interior of the portion of the housing in which the axl box is located, means in said annular recess for carrying lubricant upward from the lower part of said recess, and a lubricantconducting tube extending through the housing wall into the axle box, substantially as described.

3. In a railway car, the combination with an axle and a wheel surrounding the axle, of an axle box surrounding the axle, a housing structure surrounding the axle box and closed for retaining lubricant and excluding dirt and comprising an upright annular recess communicating at its lower part with the lower part of the interior of the portion of the housing in which the axle box is located, means in said annular recess for carrying lubricant upward from the lower part of said recess, a lubricant-conducting tube extend ng through the housing wall into the axle box, and dust-excluding means surrounding said tube at its entrance to the housing, substantially as described.

41-. In a railway car, the combination with an axle and a wheel surrounding the axle, of an axle box surrounding the axle, a hous ing structure surrounding the axle box and closed for retaining lubricant and excluding dirt,and a lubricant-conducting tube extending through the housing wall into the axle box, substantially as described.

5. In a railway car, the combination with an axle and a wheel surrounding the axle, of an axle box surrounding the axle, a housing structure surrounding the axle box. and closed for retaining lubricant and excluding dirt, a lubricant-conducting tube extending through the housing wall into the axle box, and dust-excluding means surrounding said tube at its entrance to the housing, substantially as described.

6. In a railway car, the combination with an axle and a wheel surrounding the axle, oi an axle box surrounding the axle, a housing structure secured to the car body and stn'rounding the axle box and the axle and closed for retaining lubricant and excluding dirt, said structure including a thrust wall extending around the axle and over and secured to one end of the housing body and extending around the wheel hub and having an annular recess communicating with the lower part of the interior of the housing, and washers in said annular recess for carrying lubricant upward from the lower part of said recess, substantially as described.

7. In a railway car, the combination with an xle and wheels surrounding the axle, of an axle box surrounding the axle, a housing body secured to the car and surrounding the axle box and the axle and closed below for retaining lubricant and excluding dirt, a thrust wall extending around the axle and over one end of the housing body and secured to the housing body and having a llange extendinghorizontally over the wheel hub and having on said flange an annular inward-directed flange tor the forming of an annular recess communicating with the lower part of the interior or the housing, washers in said annular recess for. carrying lubricant upward from the lower part of said recess, dust-excluding means at the outer side of the inward-directed flange, and means for retaining said excluding means, substantially as described.

8. In a railway car, the combination with an axle and wheels surrounding the axle, of an axle box surrounding the axle, a housing body secured to the car and surrounding the axle box and the axle and closed below for retaining lubricant and excluding dirt, a thrust wall extending around the axle and over one end of the housing body and secured to the housing body and extending over the wheel hub and having an annular recess communicating with the lower part oi the interior of the housing, and washers in said annular recess for carrying lubricant upward from the lower part of said recess. substantially as described.

9. In a railway car, the combination with an axle and a wheel surrounding the axle, of an axle box surrotuiding the axle, a housing structure surrounding the axle box and surrounding the axle at each end of the axle box and surrounding the adjzcent end oi the wheel hub and means on each end of the housing structure for excluding dirt and the housing structure having an annular recess between the wheel hub and the axle box, the lower part of said recess coini'nunicating with the lower part or" the housing structure which contains the axle box, and means in the annular recess for carrying lubricant upward in said annular recess, substantially as described.

10. In a railway car, the combination with an axle and a wheel surrounding the axle, of an axle box surrounding the axle, a housing structure surrounding the axle box and surrounding the axle at each end of the axle box and surrounding the adjacent end or" the wheel hub and means on each end of the housing structure "for excluding dirt and the housing structure having an annular recess between the wheel hub and the axle box, the lower part of said recess 0 mmunicat-ing with the lower part of the part of th housing structure which contains the axle box, means in the annular recess for carrying lubricant upward in said annular recess, and a lubricant-conducting tube extending through the housing wall, substantially as described.

11. In a railway car, the combination with an axle and a wheel surrounding the axle, of an axle box surrounding the axle, a housing surrounding the axle box and surrounding the axle at each end of the axle box and surrounding the adjacent end or" the wheel hub and means on each end 01: theihousing struc- V ture ture for excluding dirt and the housingstructure having an annular recess between the Wheel hub and the axle box, the lower part o1 saidrecess communicating with the lower part of the part 01"- the housing strucwhich contains the axle box, means in the annular recess for carrying lubricant upward in said annular recess, alubricant-conducting tube extending through the housing wall, and dust-excluding means surrounding said tube at its entrance to the housing, sul stantially as described.

12. In a railway car, the combination with an axle and a wheel surrounding the axle, of an axle box surrounding the axle, a housing structure surrounding the axle box and closed for retaining lubricant and excluding dirt and the top of the axle box being engaged by the housing to permit rocking on an axle which is horizontal and parallel to the length of the car, and a lubricantconducting tube extending through the housing Wall into the axle box, substantially as described.

13. In a railway car, the combination with an axle and a wheel surrounding the axle,

of an axle box-surrounding the axle, a housgaged by the housing to permit rocking on an axis which 13 horizontal and parallel t the length of the car, a 1ubricant-conducting 14. In a railway car, the combinationwith an axle and a Wheel surrounding the axle, of an axle box surrounding the axle, a housing structure surrounding the axle and closed for retaining lubricant and excluding dirt and positioned to bear endwise against the inner end. of the hub of the Wheel, and that end of the housing being open below the axle lower than the axle openlng in the other end of the housing, in order that lubricant in the housing below the axle may enter the space between the housing and the wheel hub, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name at Washington, D. C., this 22nd day of May, in the year one thousand nine hundred and twenty-five.

HUGH WV. SANFORD.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name at Saint Louis, Missouri, this second day of June, 1925.

y HARRY W. JONES. 

